Criminal procedure.

Administrative changes only: chapter number (746) assigned, Governor approval date (October 13, 2025) added, page numbering updated, and text reflowed for the official chaptered format. No policy, eligibility, funding, or procedural substance was altered.

The document was reformatted from an authenticated electronic legal material (chaptered) layout with page numbers and centered headers to a web page layout including navigation menus, search boxes, bill tracking links, and version history. The underlying statutory language of Section 1203.4b of the Penal Code is unchanged.

Removed subdivision (g), which required DOC and county authorities to report biannually to the Department of Justice about individuals released from custody who successfully participated in hand crew or firehouse programs in the prior six months, and required DOJ to collect and maintain data on participation numbers and petition outcomes.

Removed subdivision (h), which established a proactive process beginning July 1, 2026, where DOJ would review its criminal history database to identify potentially eligible convictions, notify prosecutors, and trigger a 30-day timeline for prosecution to respond, the court to decide, and DOJ to update records. This eliminated an entire second pathway to relief that did not require the defendant to file a petition.

Removed the 'as amended' designation from the legislative counsel's digest header and removed all line-number annotations throughout the text, consistent with final enrollment formatting.

Reporting frequency from DOC and county authorities to DOJ was changed from monthly to biannually (twice per year), reducing the administrative burden on local agencies.

Removed the requirement that DOJ file a petition for relief on behalf of a defendant upon that defendant's request. DOJ will now only notify eligible individuals that they may be entitled to relief, but will not act as their legal representative in filing petitions.

Added a new proactive process (new subdivision (h)(1)-(5)) requiring DOJ to begin July 1, 2026, reviewing the state summary criminal history information database to identify all convictions potentially eligible for dismissal and notify the prosecution. Prosecution has 30 days to decide whether to oppose relief. If opposing, prosecution must inform the court and public defender's office within 30 days, and the public defender must make a reasonable effort to notify the affected person. The court may then issue an order within 30 days of notice from prosecution.

Added record-keeping requirements: DOJ must update the state summary criminal history database within 30 days of a court order granting relief, and if inaccurate information was disseminated in the 30 days prior to the update, DOJ must provide notice to the requesting entity.

Clarified that a person denied relief through the new proactive DOJ process remains eligible to file a petition on their own behalf at a later date under subdivision (b).

Reporting frequency to the Department of Justice was changed from monthly to biannually (twice per year), reducing the administrative burden on the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and county authorities.

The standard for determining successful participation in the state conservation camp program and institutional firehouse was changed from a direct determination by the Secretary of Corrections and Rehabilitation to a determination made pursuant to regulations adopted by the Secretary, creating a rule-based framework rather than case-by-case discretion.

A redundant reference to the Board of State and Community Corrections was removed from the reporting requirement in subdivision (g)(1), leaving only the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and county authorities as reporting entities.

Removed the phrase 'make technical, nonsubstantive changes to this provision' from the bill summary, indicating the amendments are no longer characterized as merely technical.

Changed the state-mandated local program determination from 'no' to 'yes,' formally acknowledging that the monthly reporting requirement imposed on county authorities constitutes a state mandate subject to reimbursement under the California Constitution.

Changed the fiscal committee determination from 'no' to 'yes,' meaning the bill now requires review by the legislative fiscal committee due to its budgetary impact on local agencies.

Updated the name of the Board of State and Community Corrections to 'Board of State and Community Corrections, Rehabilitation' in the reporting provision (subdivision g(1)), likely reflecting a separate legislative rename of that agency.

New subdivision (b)(6) prohibits any state or local agency from denying an emergency medical technician certification or any other license or certification necessary to work as a firefighter based solely on the defendant's arrest or conviction history, overriding Division 2.5 of the Health and Safety Code.

New subdivision (g) requires CDCR, the Board of State and Community Corrections, and county authorities to report monthly to the Department of Justice all individuals released from custody who successfully participated in a hand crew or completed an institutional firehouse program in the prior 30 days, including dates of completion and release.

New subdivision (h) requires the Department of Justice to evaluate reported information and CLETS records to determine eligibility for relief, notify eligible defendants, and file a petition on their behalf upon request - effectively creating a proactive government filing mechanism rather than relying solely on self-petition.

New Section 2 adds a state mandates reimbursement provision, and the digest now indicates the bill imposes a state-mandated local program requiring fiscal committee approval (changed from 'no' to 'yes').

Removed redundant word 'Any' before 'A felony' in subparagraph (E) and before 'A sex offense' in subparagraph (F), correcting apparent drafting errors.